Sketch for a phenomenology of gestation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/2965-1557.35.e202330506

Abstract

Philosophy and phenomenology have barely paid attention to gestation and motherhood, and only recently this issue has been addressed, mainly due to the impulse of feminist philosophy. This paper aims to examine this field of human experience from a phenomenological perspective, in order to highlight some of its main features. The research is focused towards perceptions and feelings of pregnancy as a voluntary and conscious choice. Following a brief introduction, the paper analyses the ‘Leib’ of gestation and its peculiarities regarding body experience, among which the sensation of alienation and the patency of viscerality stand out, together with the modification of the body schema to integrate the fetus into it. Later, the paper discusses the perception of time, embedded in an attitude of active waiting. Thirdly, it inquires about the modalities of encounter with otherness fostered by pregnancy, where haptic dimension has great prominence. The final section gathers some ethical considerations related to the bond of care, hospitality and dialogue between a pregnant subject and the foetus. Final conclusions summarize the research findings, emphasize the importance of this philosophical approach, and they also aim to settle the grounds for future research on the phenomenology of pregnancy.

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Author Biography

Olaya Fernández Guerrero, Universidad de La Rioja

Licenciada y Doctora en Filosofía por la Universidad de Salamanca y Licenciada en Periodismo por la Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. Entre 2012 y 2015 ha sido coordinadora de actividades divulgativas del grupo de investigación Igualdad y Género, y desde 2021 es la investigadora principal del grupo.

Published

2023-09-19

How to Cite

Fernández Guerrero, O. (2023). Sketch for a phenomenology of gestation. Revista De Filosofia Aurora, 35. https://doi.org/10.1590/2965-1557.35.e202330506

Issue

Section

Continuous Flow